OSSTF/FEESO President Harvey Bischof releases a video to OSSTF members announcing a tentative agreement and thanking them for their support, dedication, and commitment over the last year fighting for education for the students of Ontario.

The Globe and Mail’s Caroline Alphonso publishes an article examining the growing concerns from educators on how the COVID-19 pandemic and distance learning will impact dis-advantaged students now, and going forward.

OSSTF/FEESO President Harvey Bischof releases a statement in response to the government’s extension of school closures, encouraging government to continue working with educators and af-filiates to provide a “positive learning experience”.

OSSTF/FEESO President Harvey Bischof releases a statement to OSSTF members on distance learning. He also notes the creation of a working group between all four major unions, school boards and the government to advise on distance learning.

Education Minister Stephen Lecce reveals the details of Phase 1 of ‘Learn at Home’ – an online learning program for students affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Lecce promises the distance learning resource will be "high-quality, made-in-Ontario math and literacy resources, created by Ontario-certified educators.”

Ricardo Tranjan of the CCPA publishes a Twitter thread stating there will still be 4,000 fewer teachers by 2023-24 under the proposed 23:1 class size averages and mandatory online learning with an option to opt-out.

To “minimize the impact our labour actions have on students… With so many… events planned around and during March Break” OSSTF/FEESO announces it will pause all full withdrawal of service job actions beginning next week. The pause in rotating strikes will continue through to March 27.

Due to public pressure, Minister Lecce announces class size averages of 23:1 and an e-Learning opt-out option without committing to class size caps. OSSTF President Harvey Bischof calls the Minister’s press conference an ‘amateur-hour’ move, noting that the step-down has never been ta-bled in writing as a formal bargaining offer.

The NDP releases summaries of the Ford government’s education consultations that had been kept secret. The results show the majority of Ontarians are against increased class sizes and mandatory e-Learning.

Leaked government documents reveal that from the 7,000 public submissions in the Ford gov-ernment’s education consultation, the two main messages were: "Do not increase class sizes— and forget about e-learning."

The Toronto Star reports that the Ontario government’s massive consultations on education showed virtually no support for larger class sizes, according to its own, internal reports which it has refused to release publicly.

A new report by the FAO finds that Ontario’s tax expenditures will cost the $44.4 BILLION in 2019-2020, making it the government’s second-highest area of spending – higher than education at $29.5 BILLION.

Question Period in the Ontario Legislature resumes for 2020. Doug Ford is fact-checked by Cynthia Mulligan on his claim that his government has reduced class sizes from 28 to 25. In fact, the government is increasing class sizes from 22:1 to 25:1.

Education Minister Stephen Lecce participates in a Canadian Club event to discuss the future of education in Ontario.

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February 12, 2020

The four major teacher unions announce a full, one-day strike across the entire province on February 21. This marks the first time since 1997 that all teachers and education workers engage in a full withdrawal of services in Ontario. Minister Lecce’s response is to call on the unions to accept a private mediator and end ‘needless escalations’.

An internal poll commissioned by OSSTF/FEESO of nearly 10,000 Ontarians finds that “a majority of respondents in PC ridings feel the Ford government is doing a “poor” job overall, and the government’s education policies makes them “less inclined” to support the party in the next election.”

The Toronto Sun publishes the results of a poll they commissioned which finds that the majority of Ontarians agree with the teachers in the ongoing education labour disputes. Additionally, the poll finds that “63% of Ontarians believe dispute over education is about "class sizes & mandatory student online credits—not because of a disagreement over an increase in teacher compensation".

OSSTF/FEESO announces it will hold a one-day walkout in select locations on February 13. Travis Dhanraj publishes an article highlighting how most Ontario teachers have lost between 2/3 of pay because of strikes and will likely lose more than two percent if strikes persist.

Broadbent Institute releases a ‘By the Numbers’ chart detailing how the Ford Government’s cuts are currently impacting the education sector. Andrea Grebenc, chair of the HDSB tweets that the Ministry of Education’s directive to move to 28:1 class sizes and four mandatory online learning classes has NOT changed.

February 3: ‘Vaughan Working Families’ billboards in support of the Ford Government begin popping up across the province. Lecce’s office denies any involvement. Toronto Star’s Editorial Board publishes a piece titled, ‘The Ford government should cut its losses and cut a deal with teachers’.

Travis Dhanraj releases the informal results of a Twitter poll he conducted asking respondents who they supported in the ongoing labour disputes. An overwhelming 94% of the 10,145 respondents indicated they supported the education unions.

Confidential documents leaked in the Toronto Star reveal Ford Government viewed cuts to education as a fiscal exercise, designed to achieve “maximum revenue generation” by selling their e-learning courses to other jurisdictions at a profit

One-day teacher strike closes schools in eight boards in Ontario. OSSTF Harvey Bischof says he will call off the strike if the government agrees to return to last year's class size levels, but Education Minister Stephen Lecce rejects the offer.

Minister Lecce escalates his rhetoric, making the erroneous claim that OSSTF/FEESO’s compensation ask would add up to $7.0B. Travis Dhanraj of Global News fact checks Minister Lecce’s statement and notes that OSSTF/FEESO has "definitely NOT made any such demand.” The $7.0B figure becomes widely scrutinized and questioned by the media.

OSSTF/FEESO members in nine districts engage in a one-day full withdrawal of services. Beyhan Farhadi publishes a widely shared, extensive twitter thread explaining her findings in her dissertation on e-Learning in the TDSB.

OSSTF/FEESO announces one-day strike in select boards for December 11 but proposes to postpone the work action and use a mutually agreed upon private mediator if the government agrees to: revert to 2018-19 average class size regulation of 22:1; eliminate mandatory e-Learning; provide assurances that Bill 124 will not be an impediment to free collective bargaining. Government refuses.

OSSTF/FEESO meets with the government team for approximately seven minutes with government tabling no new proposals or showing any willingness to engage in substantive discussions. Travis Dhranaj of Global News publishes story on how leaked government consultation reveals 70% of parents disapprove of increased class sizes.

OSSTF/FEESO meets with mediator. Over the course of two days of bargaining, the parties met for a total of 39 minutes. Beyhan Farhadi publishes study on e-Learning in the TDSB which documents large inequalities in student experiences and abilities.

Minister Lecce says on CBC Metro Morning teachers want 2% and it would cost $1.5B. #LecceFactCheck notes the OSSTF has never tabled a 2% increase but is asking for a cost-of-living increase tied to the Consumer Price Index, which projects to be <2% per year, for the next five years. In Queen’s Park, Minister Lecce says PC government is spending more on public education than any government in Ontario’s history. #LecceFactCheck – according to Ministry of Education data, spending has decreased by an average of $54 per pupil compared to 2018-19.

OSSTF/FEESO proposes potential cost-saving areas to offset or reverse proposed cuts and asks government for fiscal information to fuel substantive discussion on the subject. Government takes less than two hours to review proposal, dismisses all potential areas for cost-savings and refuses to provide fiscal information.

: Bargaining continues, but with very limited discussion. Minister Lecce continues to make public statements that he is looking for a deal despite his team refusing to bring amended proposals on significant issues to the table.

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October 30, 2019

Ricardo Tranjan of the CCPA (Behind the Numbers) publishes interactive map showing board by board cuts to education funding and the impact it will have across the province.

Here For Students Campaign hits another critical milestone: Ontarians have sent over 300,000 letters and tweets to MPPs and the Minister of Education calling on them to reverse their cuts to education.

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October 25, 2019

Negotiations continue (8 days of bargaining to date), but government is still unwilling to discuss substantive issues of class sizes, e-Learning or educator cuts. Ricardo Tranjan of the CCPA’s Behind the Numbers publishes article noting that under the government’s increase from 22:1 to 25:1, 5,900 teachers will lose their jobs.

At a press conference rather than the bargaining table, Ministry publicly backtracks on class size increases, announcing they will increase from 22 to 25 instead of increasing to 28. Government frames the increase in class sizes as a reduction and says this is a “first move” and not the “final move” on class sizes.

After months of government claiming not a single frontline educator would lose their job as a result of their cuts, Financial Accountability Officer of Ontario issues a report that projects 10,000 teaching positions will be lost over the next 5 years because of Ford’s funding cuts.

Initial bargaining dates of September 19 withdrawn by the Ministry, but new dates set for end of the month. Kristin Rushowy publishes article in The Toronto Star outlining the concerns of Grade 12 students who can’t take the necessary courses needed for university because of larger classroom sizes.

Ricardo Tranjan of the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives (CCPA) (Behind the Numbers) publishes article stating “the Ontario government is transferring $430 million less (adjusted for inflation) to school boards than the amount transferred in 2017-2018. That’s a (real) 2% cut in total operating funding.”